Packaged absorbent product



Oct. 12, 1937. EH. BROWN 2,095,788

- PACKAGED ABSORBENT PRODUCT Filed NOV. 30, 1936 INVENTOR ELMER HEROWN BY WM ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 12, 1937 1 UNITED sTA'rE.

PATENT OFFICE 2,095,788 PACKAGED ABSORBENT PRODUCT A Elmer H.,Brown, Trenton rN. J. Application November 30, 1936, Serial No. 113,335 (iClaims. (oi. 206-632) 'My invention relates to packaged absorbent products and particularly to absorbent material of universal application adapted to be formed by each individual user into the shape and size required for any particular need and, purpose.

' In my copending application, Serial No. 711,510, filed February 16, 1934, which has matured into Patent No. 2,076,526, granted April 13, 1937,.1 have described a form of absorbent product em- 10 bodying interposed layers of absorbent material and spacing material which is adapted for use in dentistry as a mouth pack or as asubstitute for cotton rolls and for other purposes. While the construction of the present invention may be 715 used to produce products of the type described in saidcopending application, it is of much broader application and may be employed in forming any desired type of absorbent article such as dressings, packings, catamenial bandages, diapers andthe like. Articles so produced may be formed as in any shape or size required to suit the individual needs of any user so as to provide a soft, flexible, and highly'absorbent bandage or pad.

Absorbent products and particularly catamenial bandages as heretofore produced and marketed have been manufactured into a particular form orshape and have not been adapted or capable of modification to meet the needs of different persons and at different times and under difierent conditions. Moreover, in packaging and distributing such articles they havebeen folded and compressed to reduce their bulk with the result that the article when it reaches the user is neither as soft, yielding and resilient as desired nor as absorbent as may be necessary.

In accordance with my invention these objections to constructions of the prior art are overcome and a product of universal application and having the desired softness and absorbent properties is produced by providing a package wherein the material for forming bandages, packing s,

or other absorbent articles is so arranged as to be readily removed and is distributed in a form which enables it to be folded to the desired shape for any particular use. v

This is preferably accomplished by providing a package wherein a number of elementscomprising absorbent material andspacing material are arranged in a flat, unfolded former in a form in which any folds are arranged and located so that they do not impair the absorbent properties ofthe product or prevent the formation of a soft and yielding article therefrom.

The spacing material here referred to is inter- V posed between layers of the absorbent material when the elements are folded or when several elements are used together preventing matting together of the layers of absorbent material and maintaining the absorbent material in a soft 5 loose condition even when saturated with liquid. In this way, the rapidity of absorption and the amount of liquid that may be taken up and retained by the product is increased materially.

j I have also found that freshly folded layers 10 of absorbent material and spacing material such as layers of absorbent paper, cellulose films, or the like with interposed layers of gauze or other spacing material have considerably greater power to absorb and retain liquidsthan have materials 15 which have been folded, compacted, and creased in being packaged and distributed. Moreover,

, in absorption than products heretofore provided and retain their form or shape even when satu- 25 rated with liquids. 7 When employed as catamenial bandages, ar-

ticles embodying my invention may be adapted to meet the needs of any individual. They may be given size and shape and may be varied from 30 day to day to meet unusual physiological condi- "tions accompanied by excessive ,excretions' and to meet the anatomical requirements of persons both large and small and whether stout or slim.

Furthermore, in products embodying my in- 35 :vention it is ordinarily unnecessary to employ any separating means such as paper or the like in order to prevent clinging of one element to another in removing them from the package, so that there is a saving in the production and 40 packaging costs while the unused elements of the package need not be handled and may be kept in a clean, sterile condition. Absorbent products of universal application thus may be manufactured and distributed very inexpensively and in 45 a form in which the product may be used by all persons in hospitals, homes, offices, and elsewhere without change or. variation and without the embarrassment incident to the display and purchase of many such products as heretofore manufactured and distributed. v

One of the objectsof the present invention 'is to provide a novel and inexpensive packaged product containing absorbent material of universe; application.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of absorbent product adapted for use in the formation of catamenial bandages of different sizes, forms and construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an absorbent product capable of use in producing soft, resilient, and highly absorbent bandages, packings, and the like possessing the characteristics of a freshly formed and unpressed article.

In a typical form of the invention a simple type of package is provided in which are located elements each of which includes a layer of separating material, such as gauze and one or more layers of highly absorbent materials, such as cellulose tissues or absorbent paper in a flat form 'with elements arranged within the package so as to be individually removable therefromto produce the desired absorbent product. Therefore, a particular object of the present invention is to provide a packaged absorbent of universal application embodying separating material and absorbent-matel rial in a readily foldable form.

' These other objects and features of my invention will appear from the following description thereof, in whichreference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawing.

,..form of product embodying my invention.

In that form of my invention chosen for purposesof illustration in Fig. 1 of the drawing a suitableform of container 2 is shown which may have a drop front 4 and a hinged cover 6. The containermay be formed of any desired material and may be. of any desired size or shape-for holding the absorbent elements in a flat form. "Within the container are located any desired ,number of absorbing elements in flat, extended form one upon anotherand preferably unfolded. Each of the elements comprises a layer of separating material 8, such as gauze, crinkled or perforated paper, or other suitable material, and one or more layers. H] of'highly absorbent cellulosic materiaL,

such as cellulose films or surgical or absorbent paper which is soft and which has the ability to take up rapidly and to retain water or other fluids.

Theseparating material 8 is of a type which does not cling to or become matted with the absorbent material, either when compressed therewith or when saturated with water or liquids. Thus the separating material not only serves as an outer covering for the paper or cellulose films by which the foldedrarticle may be pinned or secured in place, but also serves as an inner spacing material betweenthe folded layers of absorbentmaterial to prevent matting together of the absorbent material when they become wet or saturated with liquid.

, A package of the type disclosed in Fig. 1 may contain any suitable numberof elements and these elements may be compressed within the package, in order that a relatively small package mayc'ontain a large number of elements. However, this'compressing. of the elements when in an unfolded form does not detract from the softness and highly absorbent characteristics of the product when folded due to the fact that the product is not creased as it would be if it were packaged in a folded form. Moreover, the folding operation tends to separate and loosen the layers of which the element is composed, thereby increasing the absorbent characteristics of the product. Air spaces and small cavities, such as those indicated at l2 in Fig. 6 of the drawing, are

formed. in the freshly folded product and would not be present in a ready-made product which was packaged in a folded form. In this way spaces or capillaries for taking up and holding water or liquids are provided in the product which would not be present in a. product made and distributed in a folded form.

'As shown in Fig. 1, a corner of the layer or layers of paper or absorbent material I!) may be cut off as at M so that the separating material projects beyond the absorbent material providing a free edge which may be readily grasped to remove one or more of the elements from the package without disturbing other elements therein and without handling the other elements. The elements when removed may be folded to any desired shape or form, in order that they may be used for any desired purpose.

The construction and arrangement of the spacing material and absorbent material of the elements may, obviously, be varied considerably. As illustrated in Fig, 2 of the drawing, the edges of the layer or layers [8 of the absorbent material may be spaced from the edge of the layer of separating material 8 leaving a strip or marginal portion it projecting beyond the .edgeof the absorbent material to be readily grasped for removing the elements from the package. Preferably, when the spacing material employed is gauze, as illustrated in the drawing, the free edge I6 is aselvage edge so that raveling and matting together of these projecting edges will ,not occur. i

In that form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the edges of the absorbent material extend beyond the edges of the spacing material. If. desired, the projecting edge of the sheet- IQ of absorbent material may be folded as shown at 18, since creasing of the material only at the edge of the sheet does not materially decrease the softness of the article produced by folding of the sheet or impair its absorbent properties, whereas a folded edge may be readily grasped for removing the elements from the package.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 4, the edges of the layers of absorbent material I!) are bonded together at 20 so that separation of one layer of absorbent material from another will not occur too readily. The bonding of the edges of the absorbent material may be effected in any suitable way and may be accomplished in the cutting operation by which the sheets are formed since many types of absorbent paper tend to cling together at their edges when severed by a knife or cutter, which compresses the layers in the cut ting operation. For many purposes this bonding together of the layers of paper will be sufficient to retain the sheets together so that they may be grasped for removing the elements from the package without further treatment and without folding of the edges, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

In the alternative a suitable binding material shown at 22 in Fig. 4 may be applied along the projecting or other edges of the absorbent material to bind the layers of absorbent material together so that they will not tend to separate when grasped to remove the element from the package. Any suitable binding material may be used for this purpose, such as starch, glue, or adhesive material.

In that form of the invention, illustrated in Fig.5 of the drawing, the absorbent material and spacing material are displaced so that the ab sorbent material projects beyond one edge of the spacing material as at 24, whereas the spacing material projects beyond the opposite edge of the absorbent material as at 26. These and'other alternative arrangements of the absorbent material and spacing material may be employed and any of these products may be arranged within a container in a fiat, unfolded form or in a form which requires refolding or alteration in order to adapt the product to the use to which it is to be applied.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Fig. '7, a product of large area is shown with dotted lines 28 indicating suitable lines on which i the element may be folded when packaged to permit a large element to be distributed in a relatively small package without sacrificing the advantages inherent in a freshly folded absorbent article. Absorbent elements of the type illustrated in Fig. 7, when used as a diaper, for ex ample, may be removed from the package and opened out and thereafter folded as required, so that the folds along such lines as 28 are not used and do not impair the absorbent characteristics of the product or present the article in form for final use which would result in compression of the absorbent material without a subsequent folding and reformation of the product to give it the resilient and soft characteristics so desirable in articles of this character.

The invention as herein described may be made very readily and economically. Moreover, no spacing or separating layers other than those of the elements themselves are required, since the separating material such as gauze, which is used in the final product to prevent the layers of absorbent-material from matting together, serve in the package to prevent the elements from adhering one to another.

The product may be constructed and may be arranged in the package in other ways beside those suggested and the package may be of any desired or preferred type other than that shown in Fig. 1. The product may be manufactured in any suitable manner and by any suitable mechanism in order to produce an inexpensive and yet a highly absorbent product. In view thereof, it should be understood that those forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be illustrative of typical forms of my invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A container having therein a plurality of absorbent elements arranged in flat extended form, each of which elements comprises a layer of porous flexible spacing material and a layer of sheeted absorbent material, said elements being readily separable from each other and from said container and being foldable into overlapping relation to provide an absorbent pad having interposed layers of spacing material and absorbent material.

2. A container having therein a plurality of absorbent elements arranged in flat extended form, each of which elements comprises a layer of gauze and a layer of sheeted absorbent cellulosic material.

3. A container having therein a plurality of absorbent elements arranged in flat extended form, each of which elements is readily removable from said container and comprises a layer of gauze and a layer of sheeted absorbent cellulosic material, one of the layers of each of said elements having a portion thereof projecting beyond the other layer to permit ready separation of the elements for removal from said container.

4. A container having therein a plurality of absorbent elements arranged in fiat extended form, each of which elements comprises a layer of gauze and a plurality of layers of sheeted absorbent cellulosic material with the edges of the cellulosic material bonded together.

5. A container having therein a plurality of absorbent elements in fiat extended form, each of which elements comprises a layer of gauze and a layer of sheeted absorbent cellulosic material presenting a folded edge projecting beyond said gauze.

6. In combination with a plurality of absorbent elements each comprising a layer of porous flexible separating material and at least one layer of sheeted absorbent cellulose material which'elements are normally thin, flat and extended in form but adapted to be folded to form a soft absorbent pad having overlying layers of absorbent material and separating material, a container having a bottom, top and sides with said elements arranged therein in a flat extended form one above the other and parallel to said bottom and top with an edge of each element adjacent one side of the container said top and side being movable to provide access to the edges of said elements to permit removal thereof from the container.

ELMER H. BROWN. 

